Expanded metal apparatus



Dec. 22, 1964 E. MAIER 3,161,943

EXPANDED METAL APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V ,./34 68 P I": 48

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Eugene Meier BY WM/MTJ Dec. 22, 1964 E. MAIER 3,161,943

EXPANDED METAL APPARATUS Filed June 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F n MES INVENTOR. Eugene Meier '8 BY United States Patent 3,161,943 EXPANDED METAL APPARATUS Eugene hlaier, San Mateo, Calif., assignor to Smile Steel Company, San Francisco, Calif. Filed June 27, 1962, Ser. No. 205,687 7 Claims. (Cl. 29-62) This invention relates to apparatus for forming expanded metal from a fiat sheet and is an improvement over the device described in commonly assigned US. patent application, Serial No. 141,523 filed September 28, 1961.

The device described in the above cited patent application eliminated the necessity of transversely moving either the work piece or the dies on alternate cutting strokes in expanded metal forming devices. A double action device was there described in which the margin of a fiat metal sheet was formed with a double-width undulated portion that was subsequently split during the last half of the stroke of a moving die member to form two strands of expanded metal. The double width portion was formed with one die member and then split by a second die member. The sequential operation of the two die members was controlled by large compression springs which did not yield until the double-width undulated margin was formed. When the springs yielded the second die acted to split the formed margin.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel double action apparatus for making expanded metal which accomplishes the aforesaid sequential operation of two die members by provision of a mechanical linkage which affords positive action and requires only minimal loss of energy for its operation. This object is realized by positively locking two die members together and releasing the look after the first die has completed its forming operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a double-action metal-expanding apparatus in which the sequential operation of the control means is determined by the position of a die-carrying carriage relative to the work. This object is accomplished by interlocking two die members to one another to assure that one die completes its forming stroke before the other is released and by controlling release of the interlock according to the position of the dies relative to the workpiece surface.

A feature and advantage of this invention is that the work piece accomplishes its own adjustment so that the device will expand metal of different or varying thickness, composition, and hardness with consistency.

A further object of this invention is to provide in such a forming device a control rod which contacts the top surface of the metal work sheet and in which the rod is linked to a control cam to cause switching of the die pieces.

These, as well as other objects, features, and advantages, be apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the expanded metal-forming apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view taken from the left side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with the first pair of upper and lower die members in a position different from that of FIG. 2;

I6. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the movable dies in still another position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cam member; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sector of expanded metal formed with the apparatus of the invention.

A double-action expanded-metal apparatus includes dies each formed with undulated die faces and particu- "ice larly including a first upper die 12, a first lower die 14, a second upper die 16, and a second lower die 18 which cooperate in paired sequence to form two expanded metal strands on the leading margin of a flat metal sheet M. Lower dies 14 and 18 are fixed with respect to one another on a bed 20, and upper dies 12 and 16 are reciprocally operable with respect thereto. The leading margin of the sheet is acted upon first by dies 12 and 14 and then by dies 16 and 18 to form a double expanded portion.

The first upper die 12 is rigidly attached to a lower carriage 22 of a main carriage A by suitable means, such as flatheaded cap screws 24. Securely mounted to the top surface of carriage 22 are bearing cages 26 and 28. Each cage 26, 23 has a vertical slot 3% therein for slidably embracing lugs 32. The lugs are attached to the lower surface of a ram 34 which depends from the central portion of a block or upper carriage element 36. Depending from the forward portion of block 36 is a die mounting member 38 having rigidly attached to the lower end thereof second upper die member 16. Thus, the upper dies 12 and 16 are relatively slidably mounted due to the cooperation between slots 30 and lugs 32.

Pivotally journaled in bearing cages 26 and 28 is a gate formed by two cams 40 and 42. Each of the cams has a generally cylindrical shape with one or more out out portions 44 therein (FIG. 6) which may be formed by removing material from the cam down to a chordal plane 46. The chordal plane 46 preferably passes through the axial center of the cams 40 and 42. Attached to one end of each of cams 4t) and 42 is a tumbler 4% having a flat surface 59 disposed generally along a radial line. Thus, force against surfaces 50 applies a torque to cams 4t) and 42. The carriage 22 is formed with an aperture 52 below surfaces 543 for slidably supporting a control rod 54. The control rod has on its top end a head 56 for bearing against surfaces 50 of tumblers 48; the bottom end of rod 54 contacts sheet M when the upper dies are lowered.

On the opposite ends of cams 40 and 42 are means for biasing the cams in a direction urging the surfaces 50 into contact with head 56 of rod 54. Each of the biasing means includes a second tumbler 58, an upwardly extending rod on, and a compression spring 62. The compression springs are received by a hole 64 formed in the carriage 22. Each rod 60 has a shoulder 66 at the bottom end thereof for retaining the rod within hole 64. In this arrangement, springs 62 extend the maximum amount permitted by the shoulders 66 to urge chordal surfaces 46 of cam members 4% and 42 in the downwardly and inwardly facing position. In this position the cylin-v drical surfaces of the cams engage the lower surface of ram 34 to lock the ram against downward movement relative to carriage 22. It can be seen that when the apparatus is positioned as shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical urfaces of cams 4t and 42 form a gate for ram 34, which gate is normally closed by spring biased rod 60 pushing upwardly on tumblers 53 and opened by control rod 54. The lower surface of ram 34 has along each edge thereof a curved portion 68 which has the same radius of curvature as the cylindrical surfaces of earns 40 and 42 to provide a greater area of contact between the lower surface of ram 34 and the cylindrical surfaces of the cams 40 and 42.

Block 36 is moved reciprocally relative to bed 20 by an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder '76 through a piston rod 72 attached to the block.

In operation, piston rod 72 is totally retracted into cylinder 70 and the entire structure, including rod 54, is raised above bed 20. Sheet M is advanced so that its leading edge substantially coincides with the outward edge of die 18. Cylinder 70 is energized to urge rod 72 downwardly and energy is transferred through block 36 and ram 34 to cams 4% and 42. Because the cams are mounted to carriage 22, force is transmitted therethrough to first upper die 12. Thus, die 12 is urged downwardly so as to cooperate with lower die 14 in shearing and deforming the leading edge of the metal sheet M. The deformed portion is still joined to the metal sheet M at 7 8 but has been sheared at 76 (see FIG. 7). When the first pair of upper and lower dies 12 and 14 have completed their impression on the sheet M, head 56 of rod 54 bears against surfaces 50 to rotate the tumblers 48. Such rotation causes chordal surfaces 46 of cams 40 and 42 to approach a substantially vertical position. When the vertical position is reached, as in FIG. 3, the ram 34 is gated to permit downward movement with respect to carriage element 22, and the second upper die 16 is lowered. The weight of carriage element 22 holds dies 12 and 14 in engaged relation. When the second upper die 16 reaches engagement with second lower die 13, the double-width margin previously formed is split in two to form a second strand. The latter strand is joined to the first at 76 but is separated therefrom at '78. Cylinder 79 is then actuated by suitable control means (not shown) to raise block 36 and ram 34. When ram 34 clears the space between choral surfaces 45, cams 4t and 4-2 are pivoted by the action of spring biased rods 60 and second tumblers 58 to restore the cams to their original position. As ram 34 continues its upward movement, lugs 32 engage the upper end of slot 39 and carriage 2-2 is thus raised. Upper dies 12 and 16 as well as rod 54 are thus elevated and sheet M may be advanced for the next expanding operation.

Because the distance from the lower end of rod 54 to the upper surface of bed 24) as the gate is opened is made equal to the clearance between first upper die '12 and first lower die 14, which in turn is equal to the thickness of the material M being expanded, various thicknesses of sheet material M may be expanded without further adjustment of the apparatus.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In double action expanded metal apparatus wherein first and second fixed lower dies cooperate respectively with first and second vertically reciprocable upper dies to shear and deform in time sequence a leading margin of a flat metal plate passed therethrough, means for controlling the sequential operation of the dies comprising a base for rigidly mounting the lower dies substantially normal to the line of travel of the metal plate, a block for supporting the second upper die, means for reciprocally moving said block toward and away from the second lower die, a carriage slidably mounted on the underside of said block, said upper die mounted on said carriage, a pair of spaced apart cams pivotally journaled on said carriage, each of said cams including an elongate cylindrical shaft having part of the surface cut away therefrom along a chord thereof, means for rotatably biasing said cams so that the chordal surfaces are inward of vertical, a ram depending from said block bearing on said cams when the chordal surfaces thereof are biased inward of vertical by said biasing means passing between the cams when the chordal surfaces are substantially vertical, and means for pivoting said cams against said biasing means when the first upper and lower dies have sheared and deformed the metal therebetween to pivot the chordal surfaces to a vertical position, whereby said ram passes between said cams to lower the second upper die to mesh with the second lower die.

2. In double action expanded metal apparatus wherein first and second upper dies and first and second lower dies respectively cooperate in time sequence to shear i and deform a leading margin of a flat metal plate passed therethrough, and wherein the lower dies are rigidly attached to a base on a line normal to the path of travel of the plate, means for controlling the sequential operation of the dies comprising a carriage for supporting the first upper die, a block for supporting the second upper die, said carriage being slidably mounted on the underside of said block, a pair of spaced apart generally cylindrical cams pivotally mounted on parallel axes on said carriage, each of said cams having a cut out portion in the surface thereof, said portions being generally out along a chord of the cylindrical shape so that pivoting of the portions toward one another will enlarge the space between the cam surfaces, a ram depending from said block, said ram having a lower surface thereon shaped to bear upon the cylindrical surface of said cams when the surfaces are closely spaced from one another and to pass between the cams when the cut out portions are .pivotecl toward one another, means for rotationally pair of upper and lower dies have meshed.

3. In double action expanded metal apparatus wherein first and second upper dies and first and second lower dies respectively cooperate in time sequence to shear and deform a leading margin of a fiat metal plate passed A therethrough, and wherein first and second lower dies are rigidly attached to a base on a line normal to the path of travel of the plate, means for controlling the sequential operation of the dies comprising a carriage for supporting the first upper die, a block for supporting the second upper die, said carriage being slidably mounted on the underside of said block, a pair of spaced apart generally cylindrical cams pivotally mounted on parallel axes on said carriage, each of said cams having a cut out portion in the surface thereof, said portions being generally out along a chord of the cylindrical shape so that pivoting of the portions toward one another will enlarge the space between the cam surfaces, a ram depending from said block, said ram having a lower surface thereon shaped to bear upon'the cylindrical surface of said cams when the surfaces are closely spaced from one another and to pass between the cams when the cut out portions are pivoted toward one another, means for rotationally biasing said cams so that the chordal surfaces face downwardly and inwardly a tumbler coaxially attached to each of said cams, and a push rod slidably depending from said carriage, said push rod being arranged so that its top end bears upon the tumbler and its bottom end bears upon the metal plate, said push rod having a length so that as the first upper die meshes with the first lower die thecams will be rotationally disposed to permit said ram to pass therebetween.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said biasing means comprises a second tumbler mounted on each shaft, compression springs disposed in openings in said carriage outside of the space between said cams, and rods communicating between the springs and second tumblers.

5. Apparatus for forming expanded metal from a fiat metal plate comprising a bed having a shear edge disposed transversely of the path of travel of the metal plate, a first lower die formed with undulations disposed adjacent said edge with the uppermost portions of the undulations being even with said edge, a second lower die formed with undulations disposed adjacent said first lower die, said second lower die being disposed so that uppermost portions of the undulations of said second die are even with the lowermost undulations of the first die, first and second upper dies shaped respectively complementarily to said first and second lower dies, supporting means mounted above said lower dies and carrying said second upper die, means to vertically reciprocally move said support means toward and away from said second lower die,

a carriage slidably mounted beneath and on said supporting means, said first upper die mounted on said carriage, a gate on said carriage, a ram member depending from said second upper supporting means and bearing on said gate, means for reciprocally driving said second die supporting means, and means for opening said gate when said first upper and lower dies have completed their impression, whereby the ram is gated downwardly so that said second upper die supporting means descends causing said second upper die and said second lower die to cooperate to shear and deform the metal.

6. In double action expanded metal forming apparatus wherein a first pair of upper and lower dies are caused to impress an undulate margin on a metal plate and a second pair of upper and lower dies are caused to partially split the undulated margin in sequence so as to form two complementary undulated portions, means for controlling the sequential operation of the first and second pair of dies comprising a block supporting said second upper die for reciprocal movement relative to said second lower die, a carriage supporting said first upper die, said carriage being slidably mounted on said block, a ram follower depending from said block, first and second spaced apart cams pivotally mounted on parallel axes on said carriage, each of said cams having a generally semicylindrical shape forming a fiat bearing face, means for rotatably spring biasing said cams to position the bearing faces to face upwardly to support said ram follower, means for urging said block downwardly relative to the lower dies, means for rotating said cams when said first pair of dies have formed the undulate margin on metal plate to position the bearing faces in vertical alignment to enlarge the space between the cams to allow said ram follower to extend into the space between the two bearing faces and enable said second pair of dies to lower onto the metal plate.

7. Apparatus for making expanded metal from a flat sheet of metal comprising a base plate for supporting the flat sheet, first and second fixed dies disposed on said base plate, and a carriage slidably mounted above said base, said carriage including a first element, a first upper die attached to said first element, a second element slidably mounted relative to said first element, a second upper die attached to said second element, means to vertically reciprocate said carriage relative to said base, gate means for releasably locking said first and second element against relative movement during a first downward moving phase of said carriage, gate releasing means for releasing said gate means to allow movement between said first and second element, and means carried by said carriage and depending towards said base plate to actuate said gate releasing means when said carriage is moved beyond a predetermined distance relative to said base plate when said first element has reached a preselected position relative to said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

7. APPARATUS FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL FROM A FLAT SHEET OF METAL COMPRISING A BASE PLATE FOR SUPPORTING THE FLAT SHEET, FIRST AND SECOND FIXED DIES DISPOSED ON SAID BASE PLATE, AND A CARRIAGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BASE, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A FIRST ELEMENT, A FIRST UPPER DIE ATTACHED TO SAID FIRST ELEMENT, A SECOND ELEMENT SLIDABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST ELEMENT, A SECOND UPPER DIE ATTACHED TO SAID SECOND ELEMENT, MEANS TO VERTICALLY RECIPROCATE SAID CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, GATE MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENT AGAINST RELATIVE MOVEMENT DURING A FIRST DOWNWARD MOVING PHASE OF SAID CARRIAGE, GATE RELEASING MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID GATE MEANS TO ALLOW MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND ELEMENT, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE AND DEPENDING TOWARDS SAID BASE PLATE TO ACTUATE SAID GATE RELEASING MEANS WHEN SAID CARRIAGE IS MOVED BEYOND A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE RELATIVE TO SAID BASE PLATE WHEN SAID FIRST ELEMENT HAS REACHED A PRESELECTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BASE. 